Of Letters Great and Small, and when to be used.

FIRST Negatively▪ Great Letters are not to be used in the Middle or latter End of a Word, except the whole Word be so written, as JEHOVAH, LORD, or Titles of Books, &c. For it would be very absurd to write thus: To Mr. geoRgE RoGeRs In thaMes StReEt.

1 st, Great Letters, or Capitals, are written at the Begin­ning of Sentences; as, Fear God. Honour the King. Know when to speak, and when to hold your Tongue.

2 dly ▪ After every Period, or Full Stop, when new Mat­ter begins. As, Some time after that Accident, another fol­lowed, [Page 3] which was this, &c. London, May 16. Turin, June 12, &c.

3 dly, All Proper Names of Persons, Places, Ships, Rivers, &c. are to begin with a Capital; as, George, London, the Dr [...]adnought, Thames, Severn: All Christian Names and Surnames, both of Men and Women, must begin with a Great Letter; as, Samuel Sharp, Mary Sweeting, &c.

4 thly, The more eminent Words in a Sentence; as Faith is the Foundation of the Christian Religion; or, any Word that we have a particular Regard or Deference for; as, God, Christ, King, Queen, &c.

5 thly, At the Beginning of every Line in Poetry; as,

6 thly, All Names of Arts, and Sciences, and Trades; as, Writing, Arithmetick, Geometry, Musick, Carpenter, Smith, &c. And evermore the Personal Pronoun I, and the Inter­jection O, must be Capitals.

For it is ridiculous to write thus; On Monday last i came to your House, but you was not at Home; then i went, &c.

Lastly, I think I may venture to give a general Rule when Capitals are to begin Words, which is this; All Nouns Sub­stantive may begin with a great Letter; and a Substantive may be known by the Signs either of A, An, or The, before them; as, a House, a Mill, an Ox, an Ass, the City, the River, &c. And I think the Adjective (which declares what Sort of a Thing the Substantive is) may be with a Small, and the Substantive with a Great Letter; as, the white Horse, the long Rope, brown Bread, fat Beef, &c.

Small Letters are commonly written in all other Places, as Verbs of the Active and Passive Voice, &c.

Observations concerning the Sound of Letters, and which are omitted in Pronounciation.

A, Is not sounded in Pharaoh, nor in Sabbaoth, but as if written Pharo, and Sabboth; neither in Marriage, but as Marrige; also Parliament as Parliment, and Chaplain as Chaplin, &c. In some proper Names it is not sounded, but drop'd in the Pronounciation; as in Aaron, Isaac, Canaan, Balaam, which are pronounced as if written Aron, Isac, Canan, Balam; but we must except Ba-al, and Ga-al. A is sounded broad like aw, in Words before ld and ll; as in bald, scald, ball, wall, [...]all, &c.

[Page 4] B is not sounded in thumb, dumb, plumb, [...], doubt, debt, subtle, &c. but sounded as if written thum, dum, plum lam, dout, det, suttle.

C is sounded hard like K, before a, o, and u, and before l and r; as in these Words, cane, came, comb, cub, clay, crane, crab; and soft in cement, city, and tendency; C loseth its Sound in scene, science, and victuals, and in ve [...]dict, likewise in indict, indictment; also before k, as in stack, rack, stick, thick, brick.

Ch is sounded like K, in Words of Foreign Extraction, and in many proper Names of the holy Scripture; as in Chorus, Chymist, Chrysostom, Christ, Chederlaomer, Baruch, Archippus, &c. Ch in French Words sound like sh, as in Chevalier, pronounced as Shevalier: Machine as Masheen, Mareschal as Marshal, Capuchin as Capushen, Chaise as Shaze, &c.

D is not sounded in Ribband, nor in Wednesday, but pro­nounced as Ribbin, and Wensday; the Termination ed is shortened into t; as burned, burnt; choaked, choakt; ripped, ript; passed, past; choped, chopt; &c.

E is not sounded in heart, neither in hearth, or dearth, &c. and seldom heard but in Monosyllables; as in me, he, she, ye, the, &c. where it hath the Sound of ee; but in Words, derived from the Hebrew and Greek, e hath its perfect Sound, as, Jesse, Jubile, Mamre, Nineve, Candace, Cloe, Eunice; Penelope, Salmone, Phebe, Epitome, Catastrophe, Gethsemane, and from the Latin simile, and premunire, &c. E final, or e at the End of a Word, serves to lengthen the Sound, and to distinguish it from other Words without e, which are sounded short; as in these Examples following, viz. cane, can; hate, hat; bite, bit; fare, far; hope hop; made, mad; mane, man; scrape, scrap; stare, star; tune, tun; write, writ; &c. And in Words of more than one Syllable, length­ens the Sound of the last Syllable, but doth not increase the Number of Syllables; as, admire, demise, blaspheme, &c. E lengthens the Syllable in Tyre, Kenite, and Shu-la-mite. E must not be made to lengthen a Syllable, when it is made short by two Consonants; as in pass, turn, black; not passe, turne, blacke. Words ending in cre, gre, and tre, Sound the e before the r, as in these Words; acre, lucre, centre, se­pulchre; tygre, maugre, mitre, lustre; which are sounded as if writen aker, luker, senter, sepulker, tyger mauger, miter, and luster. E final, when not sounded, serves to soften c and [Page 5] g, as in ace, place, lace, spice, truce, oblige, huge, age, &c. If Nouns in e final take s after them with an Apostrophe be­fore it, it stands for his, as the Pope's Eye, or the Eye of the Pope. If without an Apostrophe, it makes the Plural Num­ber, as Tables. E must be joined to long s in these Words; Horse, Nurse, Purse; not Hors, Nurs, or Purs. If to e at the End of a Word, a long Vowel be added, the e is to be omitted, as in writing, loving, doing, &c. not writeing, loveing, or doeing; except the Terminations ge and ce before able, as in charge-able, peace-able, &c. E must not be written after a Diphthong, in these Words; vain, maid, gain, fear, gnaw, &c. not vaine, maide, gaine, &c.

F in Plurals is changed into v, as, strife, strives, staff, staves.

G is not sounded in sign, reign, neither in gnaw, gnat, assign, design, seignior, seraglio, phlegm, &c. but sounded as [...]f senior, seralio, fleme. G is sounded soft in gender, ginger, and gipsy; but hard in Gibeon, Giberah, Gilboa, Geth-semane, and hard also in these Proper Names, Gibson, Gilman, and Gilbert; and likewise in these common Words, gelt, geld, gird, gimp, geese, gander, gabble, gather, gild, &c. Ob­serve, That if G be hard with a long Vowel, ue is joined and pronounced in the same Syllable; as in Plague, Prague, Hague, rogue, league, dialogue, catalogue, &c.

Gh in the End of some Words, where au or ou goes be­fore, hath the Sound of ff, as in tough, rough; cough, laugh, [...]ounded as if tuff, ruff, coff, laff; but huff, cuff, snuff, and buff, must be so written.— Gh is not sounded in mighty, though, through, neither in daughter, or Vaughan.

H hath Place, but no Sound, in Chrystal, Chronicle, Christ, Ghost, John, Rhine, Schedule, and Schism. H is not sounded at the End of Words, if it be alone, without t or c before [...]t, as, snatch, watch, &c.

l is not sounded in adieu, juice, venison, fruit, bruise, Salisbury; but sounded like ee in oblige, Magazine, and Ma­chine, &c. l is sounded long in proper Names ending in iah, Jeremiah, Hezekiah; but short in A-ri-el and Me-ri-am.— The tail'd j, or Consonant, hath been spoke of before.

K is nearly allied in Sound with C; but to know when to use one, and when the other, Note, that C hath the Force of K only before a, o, oo, and u, and these two Consonants l and r; and therefore we must not write, kare for care, [Page 6] kow for cow, krown for crown; and the use of K is only be [...]fore e, i, and n; wherefore we must write keep, key, knight▪ kill, &c. not ceep, cey, cnight, nor cil ▪ We must write Ca [...]lendar, Catherine, rather than Kalendar, or Katherine.

L is not sounded in calf, half, chalk, stalk, walk; bu [...] pronounced as if cafe, hafe, chauk, flauk, wauk. Neithe [...] is l pronounced in Bristol, Holborn, Lincoln, Salmon, o [...] Chaldron; but sounded as if writ Bristow, Hoburn, Lincon▪ Sammon, and Chaudron; nor in Colonel, where the first l hat [...] the Sound of rr, as Curronel.

M hath the Sound of n, in the Word accompt.

N is not heard in autumn, lime-kiln, solemn, limn, hymn column, nor in condemn.

O is not sounded in people, faoffe, bason, mutton, and [...] also in yeoman, mason, righteous, bacon, jeopardy, and crimson ▪ O sometimes sounds like oo, as in doing, moving, proving, &c▪ O is not heard in coroner, damosel, Nicholas, carrion, [...] in chariot; but pronounced as if writ crowner, damsel▪ Nicklas, carrin, and charrit.—O is sometimes sounde [...] like i; as in women and flagon, pronounced as if wimme [...] and flaggin. And sometimes O is sounded as u, as in cordui [...] ▪ conjure, attorney, and Monmouth, being heard as if [...] cundit, cunjur, atturney, and Munmouth.

P is written, but not sounded, in empty, presumptuous▪ psalm, sumpter, accompt, attempt, psalter, and symptom; als [...] in sumptuous, contemptuous, receipt, and consumptive, &c.

Ph have the sound of f, when together in one Syllable; [...] in philosophy, physician, Asaph, and elephant, but we mu [...] not write filosophy, fisitian, nor Asaf, or elefant. Ph [...] parted in shep-herd, up-hold, and in Clap-ham, and othe [...] such compounded Words.

Q. After Q always follows u in all Words; and in Frenc [...] Words it hath the Sound of k; as in risque, liquor, catho [...]lique, banquet, conquer, masquerade, chequer; pronounce [...] as risk, likker, catholic, banket, &c.

S is not sounded in island, viscount, or isle, nor in Lisle [...] but pronounced as iland, vicount, ile, and Lile.

There be two Sorts of s's, the long s, thus s; and the lit [...]tle s, thus s; the long s in the Beginning and Middle [...] Words, (but never at the latter End) and the short or smal [...] s at the latter End of Words, and sounds hard like z, in [...] the Words of the plural Number, and in Words of the thir [...] Person; as names, worms, he reads, she hears▪ S sound [Page 7] [...]ard, in Words that terminate in sion, as in circumcision, [...]vasion, delusion; but after a Co [...]sonant soft, as in c [...]ver­sion, commission, dimension. S is likewise soun [...]ed hard in the [...]e Words, raise, praise, chaise, cheese, these, compose, exp [...]se, [...]ruise, refuse, applause, pause, clause, wisdom, casement, [...]nd damsel.—I do not think it any very great Abuse, to [...]ave the small s sometimes in the Beginning or Middle of a Word, as well as at the latter End; especially if a t follow [...], thus st.

Th sounds fine in thin, think, and wrath; and is sounded [...]ard in thee, th [...]n, they, that, blythe, tythe, and sithe; [...] in mother, brother, hither, thither; and in loath, cloath, [...]nd cloathier, &c.

Ti before a Vowel or Diphthong, hath the Sound of si; as [...] patience, dictionary, gratian, oblation, nation, translation; [...]xcept when s goes just before it, as in these Words, question, [...]ustian, bastion, combustion, and celestial, and also bestial, [...]c. In some Words of Hebrew and Greek, ti retains its [...]atural Sound; as in S [...]ealatiel, Phaltiel, Shephatiah, Cotittia, [...]dramyttium, and the like; and in mightier and mightiest, [...]ptiest, emptied; and from pity, we say piti-able.

U is sounded like i in bury, birry, buzy, bizze; business, [...] bizness.

W is not sounded, though written, in answer, sword, whore, nor in swooning away, neither is it heard in wrap, wrath, wrong, wretch, wreath, wrangle, wriggle; but [...]ronounced as if sord, hore, souning, and hath the Sound of [...] in the last seven Words, viz. rap, rath, rong, &c.

Wh belongs to Words purely English; as what, when, where and wheel.

X is sounded as z, in Xenophon, Xerxes, Xenocrates, and Xantippe.

Y is either a Vowel or Consonant, as hinted before. A Vowel, in my, by, sly, thy; and sometimes, when a Vowel, [...] hath the Sound of ee, as in worthily, christianity, liberty, [...]ormerly, formally, Normondy, and Dorothy. Y is a Consonant when it begins a Word, as in yet, you, yonder, younger, and yesterday.

Z hath its proper Sound, in Zeno, zeal, zealous, and in Zenobia. It hath the Sound of s in Elizabeth, size, prize, [...]nd Melchizedeck; the first of which Words hath been for­merly, and sometimes now is writ with an s, thus, Elisabeth.

[Page 8]Thus far for the Sound of Letters single; and now I shall give a few Notes concerning two Letters, when they are united in one Sound, called Diphthongs; and first of

Ai and Ay. These have the Sound of a, in air, fair, pair, may, stay, play; but a is lost in Calais, (a Town of France) and pronounced separately in Sinai, (a Mountain of Arabia)▪

Ei, and Ey, are sounded in eight, streight, sleight, and heyday! and are pronounced as e, in key, veil, and convey but eye must be excepted: And ei is sounded as a, in neigh­bour, and heir, being pronounced as nabor and arc.

Oi and Oy have a Sound peculiar to themselves; as in oil and oyster; but make no Diphthong in going or doing.

Au and Aw commonly keep a proper Sound; as in augur [...] ▪ austere, daw, maw, saw, &c. but au is lost in aunt, an [...] gauger, being sounded as ant and gager; likewise is not hear [...] in Em-ma-us, and Ca-per-na-um.

Eu and Ew have an united Sound in all Words, as in feu [...] brew, new, and grew; but eu, is no Diphthong in Zac che us, or in Bar-ti-me-us.

Ou and Ow. Ou is expressed in foul, soul, proud, loud; an [...] ow in bow, cow, and now; but ou sounds like oo, in s [...]up (a French Dish) Stroud, (a Town in Kent) and Cowper, (a Man Name) sounded as if soop, Strood, and Cooper.

Ee is no Diphthong in Be-e-rites, Be-er-she-ba, and in B [...]el-ze-bub, one of the e's is dropt in Pronounciation; neithe [...] in Words beginning with re, or pre, as re-enter, pre e-m [...]nence.

Oo is properly sounded in cool, fool, pool, and tool; [...] hath the Sound of u in root, foot, and soot; and makes [...] Diphthong in Co-os, co-o-pe-rate.

Ea sounds like a, in sea, pea, seam, and ream; and hat [...] the sound of e in bread, head, lead, dead, search, leathe [...] ▪ feather, heaven, and leaven; but is no Diphthong in ven-g [...]ance, mis-cre-ant, or any Hebrew, Greek, or Latin Word [...] as in Ka-desh, Bar-ne a, Kir-jath-je-a-rim, nor in Ce s [...]re-a, i-de a, or o-ce-an; neither in re al, be-a-ti-tude, [...] a tor; but except creature; nor in Words beginning with [...] as pre-amble, &c.

Oa is sounded as o in goat, boat, and coat; and sounde [...] broad, as au, in broad and groat; but is no Diphthong Go-a, (a City in India) or in the Hebrew Words Zo-an, [...], and Gil-bo-a.

[Page 9]Ie before a single Consonant, sounds like ee, as in brief, chief, and thief; but if before two Consonants, it sounds like e; as in friend, field; but at the End of English Words▪ e final is not heard, as in die, signifie; and is no Diphthong in A-bi e zer, Eli-e-zer, nor in the English Words di-er, car­ri-er, or clo-thi er; and in Words derived from the Latin, [...]e is parted, as in cli-ent, o-ri-ent, qui-et, and sci-ence.

Ui is sounded as u in juice, fruit, and suit; but u is lost in conduit, build, and guise, and is no Diphthong in je su­it, ge-nu-in, or fru-i-ti-on.

AE and OE be no English Diphthongs, but are used in Aesop, Aeneas, Aetna, Caesar, Oedipus, and Oeconomy; but in common Words they are neglected; as in equity, female, and tragedy, tho' derived of aequitas, foemina, and tragoedia.

Of Syllables, and their Divsion, being the Art of Spelling.

A Syllable is a taking Letters together, and ut [...]ring them in one Breath, as vir-tue; so that virtue being thus divided, or taken asunder, makes two Syllables, viz. vir and tue, which put together, forms the word virtue. And many times a Vowel, or a Diphthong, of themselves, make a Syl­lable; as in a-bate, e-ve-ry, i-dle, o-ver, u-su-rie; so of Diphthongs, as au-ger, Eu-stace, ow-ner, ai [...]der, oy-ster Ea-ton, oa-ten: By which we may particularly note, That no Syllable can be made, be there never so many Consonants, or so few, without the Aid of a Vowel or Diphthong.

The longest Monosyllables we have in English, are length, strength, and streights; which still would be nothing, without the Vowel e and i.

All Spelling may be taken in, under these four following general Rules, or Heads.

1 st, When a Consonant comes between two Vowels in di­viding the Word into [...]yllables, the Consonant is joined to the latter Vowel; as in sta-ture, na-ture, de-li-ver, u ni-ty, &c. except compound Words, which terminate in ed, en, est, eth, er, ing, ish, and ous; as coasted, gold-en, know-est, know-eth, bear-er, fool-ing, bar-ba-rous, ra-ven-ous, and sub-urbs.

2 dly, When two Consonants come together in the Middle of a Word, they are to be parted if not proper to begin a Word; as num-ber, stran-ger, for-tune, &c. not numb-er, strang-er, fort-une: To this Rule is excepted, Words with x, as ox-en, ex-er-cise, &c. When the same Consonant is doubled [Page 10] in a Word, the first belongs to the foregoing, and the latter to the following Syllable, as in the Rule above, and in these words, Ab ba, ac-cord, an-no, ad-der, &c.

3 dly, Consonants that can begin Words, must not be parted in the Middle; as a-gree, be-stow, re-frain, &c. not ag-ree, bes-tow, ref-rain.—These Consonants may begin Words, viz. bl, br, ch, cr, dr, dw, fl, fr, gh, gl, gr, kn, &c. as blunt, break, chaw, cry, draw, dwell, flesh, ghost, &c. On the Contrary, Consonants that cannot begin Words, must be parted in the Middle, as in Sul-tan, and as said above.

4 thly, When two Vowels come together, not making a Diphthong, they must be divided; as in vi-al, va-li-ant, Li-o-nel, du-el, cru-el, me-te-or, and La-o-di-ce-a.

Some particular Notes.

L is doubled in Words of one Syllable; as well, tell, swell, ball, wall, fall, will, hill, mill, &c. But in Words of more than one Syllable, the Word always te [...]minates with single l, as, angel, Babel, hurtful, dutiful, and beautiful. Neither must l be doubled in alway, also, although; not all-way, all-so, all-though, &c. But Words accented on the last Syllable, must be excepted from the Rule above, viz. install, recall, inroll, rebell, and repell.

Y must be used before the Termination ing, as buying, ly­ing, carrying, marrying, paying, slaying, burying, &c.

The long s must never be used at the End of a Word, o [...] immediately after the short or small s.

X should be used instead of ct, where it appears to have been in the Original; as reflexion connexion, rather than re­flection, or connection, &c.

Remember, that if you cannot write out the whole Word at the End of the Line, break it off at the End of a Syllable, thus — con­demn; not thus — cond­emn: Again—dis­charge; not—disc­harge.

C must not be put between two Consonants; as think, no [...] thinck; thank, not thanck; brink, not brinck; but if a Vowel goes before c, you must write c before k, as brick, stick, thick, &c.

E final must not be placed after a Syllable made long by a Diphthong, as rain, not raine; brain, not braine; re­strain, [Page 11] not restraine, &c. Neither is it necessary after a double Consonant, as inn and add; not inne or adde: But we must except Anne, a Christian Name, and Donne, a Sur­name; and also Deale, the Name of a Town in Kent.

Ph must be retained in Words of a Foreign Original; as phancy, prophet; not fancy, profet.

U follows Q in all Words, as was said before.

Q is better than C, in some Words from the Latin, as oblique, antique, relique, rather than oblike, antike, or relike. Also paquet, risque, traffique, and Fabrique, from the French.

K is by some thought unnecessary in Words of Foreign Ex­traction, viz. arithmetic, music, logic, public, catholic, and physic; rather than arithmetick, &c.

Of S and C. Some People may easily drop into Error by mistaking S for C, as in the Beginning of the following Words, where C hath the perfect Sound of S, though C must undoubtedly be written, viz. in

• Ceiling
• Celestial
• Civet
• Certain
• Cymbal
• Cistern
• Centurion
• Cinnamon
• Ceremony
• Cellar
• Censure
• Censor
• Cease
• Celebrate
• Cell
• Censer
• Celerity
• Cypress
• Circle
• Circuit
• Cement
• Ceruss
• Centre
• Cinque
• Cypher
• City
• Citron

But these Words must be written with S, viz.

• Science
• Schedule
• Sceptre
• Scheme
• Scarcity
• Schism
• Sciatica
• Scythian

When to write ti, and when si—viz.

with ti.

with si.

Contention

Confusion

Action

Occasion

Contradiction

Contusion

Attention

Oppression

Benediction

Allusion

Apparition

Ascension

Concoction

Aversion

Declaration

Aspersion

Ambition

Commission

Contrition

Comprehension

Oration

Circumcision

Oblation

Conclusion

[Page 12]These Words spell thus,

• Passion, not Pashon
• Fashion, not Fation
• Cushion, not Cution
• Gloucester, not Gloster
• Worcester, not Worster
• Salisbury, not Salsbury
• Leicester, not Lester.
• Shrewsbury, not Shrosbury
• Carlisle, not Carlile
• Westminster, not Westmiste [...]

Another Qualification in Spelling, is rightly to distingui [...] Words of the same Sound, though widely different in the Sense and Signification: Such as these that follow, viz.

• ABel, Cain's Brother
• Able, to do a Thing
• A Bell, to ring
• Accidents, Chances
• Accidence, a Book
• Acre, of Land
• Acorn, of an Oak
• Achor, a Valley of that Name
• Advice, Counsel
• Advise, to counsel
• Account, Esteem
• Accompt, of Reckoning
• Ale, a Drink
• Ail, Trouble
• All, every one
• Awl, for Shoemakers
• Alley, a narrow Place
• Ally, a Friend or Confederate
• Allay, to give Ease
• Alloy, baser Metal
• Altar, for Sacrifice
• Al [...]er, to change
• Ale-hoof, an Herb
• Aloof, at a Distance
• Allow'd, approv'd
• Aloud, to speak so
• Amiss, wrong
• [...], or Mistress
• Ant, a Pismire
• Aunt, a Father's Sister
• Anchor, of a Ship
• Anker, a Rundlet
• A Peal, of Bells
• Appeal, to higher Powers
• Appear, to be seen
• A Peer, a Lord
• Aray, good Order
• Array, to cloth
• A Rose, to smell to
• Arose, did rise
• Are, they be
• Heir, to an Estate
• Arrant, notorious
• Errand, a Message
• Arrows, to shoot
• Arras, Hangings
• A Scent, or Smell
• Ascent, a going up
• Assent, Agreement
• Assistance, Help
• Assistants, Helpers
• Augur, a Soothsayer
• Augre, to bore with
• Ax, to cut with
• Acts, of Parliament
• Austere, severe
• Oyster, a Shell Fish

• Babel, the Tower
• Bab [...]le, to prate
• Ba [...]on, Hog's Flesh
• Baken, in the Oven
• Beckon, to make a Sign
• Bail, a Surety
• Bale, of Goods
• [Page 13] Bald, without Hair
• Bawl'd, cry'd out
• Ball, to play with
• Bawl, to cry aloud
• Barbara, a Woman's Name
• Barbary, in Africa
• Barberry, a Fruit
• Bare, naked
• Bear, a Beast, or to bear
• Bays, of Bay Trees
• Baize, Cloth of Colchester
• Base, Vile
• Ba [...]s, in Music
• Belly, Part of the Body
• Belie, to speak falsly
• Be, they are
• Bee, that makes Honey
• Beer, to drink
• Bier, to carry the Dead on
• Bell, to ring,
• Bel, an Idol
• Berry, a small Fruit
• Bury, the Dead
• Blue, a Colour
• Blew, as the Wind
• Board, a Plank,
• Bor'd, a Hole
• Boar, a Beast
• Bore, to bore
• Boor, a Country Fellow
• Bold, Confi [...]ent
• Bowl'd, at the Jack
• Bolt, the Door
• Boult, the Meal
• Bow, to bend, or the Bow
• Bough, of a Tree
• Boy, a Lad
• Buoy, of an Anchor
• Bread, to eat
• Bred, brought up
• Breech [...]s, to wear
• Breaches, broken Places
• Bruit, a Report
• Brute, Beast
• Burrow, for Coneys
• Burrough, a Corporation
• By, near
• Buy, with Money
• Brews, he breweth
• Bruise, a Hurt
• Brewis, of Fat and Bread

• Cain, that kill'd his Brother
• Cane, to walk with
• Caen, in Normandy
• Calais, in France
• Chalice, a Cup
• Call, by Name
• Cawl, or Suet
• Cannon, a great Gun
• Canon, a Church Rule
• Capital, great or chief
• Capitol, a Tower in Rome
• Car [...]er, full Speed
• Carrier, of Goods
• Cellar, for Liquors
• Seller, that selleth
• Ce [...]ser, for Incense
• Censor, a Reformer
• Censure, to judge
• Cen [...]aury, an Herb
• Century, an hundred Years
• Centry or Se [...]tinel, a Soldier on Guard
• Chair, to sit in
• Chare, a Job of Work
• Champaine, Wine of France
• Campaign, a wide Field, or Summer's Expedition
• Cho [...]er, Rage or Anger
• Collar, of the Neck
• Coller, of Beef or Brawn
• Cieling, of a Room
• Sealing, with a [...]eal
• Cittern, for Music
• Citron, a Fruit
• [Page 14] Clerk, a Clergyman
• Clerk, of a Parish
• Clause, Part of a Sentence
• Claws, of a Beast or Bird
• Coat, a Garment
• Cote, for Sheep
• Comb, for the Hair
• Come, hither
• Commit, to do
• Comet, a blazing Star
• Common, usual
• Commune, or converse
• Condemn, to Death
• Contemn, to despise
• Council, of the King
• Counsel, Advice
• Cou'd, or could
• Cud, to chew as Beasts
• Current, a passing or running Stream
• Courant, a Messenger or News-paper
• Currants, Fruit
• Crick, in the Neck
• Creek, of the Sea or River
• Cousin, a Relation
• Coz [...]n, to cheat
• Cymbal, a musical Instrument
• Symbol, a Mark or Sign
• Cypress, a Tree
• Cyprus, an Island
• Cruse, for Oil
• Cruize, by the Sea Coast
• Cygnet, a young Swan
• Signet, a Seal

• Dane, of Denmark
• Deign, to vouchsafe
• Dam, stopping Water
• Damn, to condemn
• Dame, a Mistress
• Dear, of Price
• Dear, in a Park
• Deceased, dead
• Diseased, sick
• Decent, becoming
• Descent, going down
• Dissent, to disagree
• D [...]ep, low in the Earth
• Diep, a Town in France
• Defer ▪ to put off
• Differ, to disagree
• Derbe, a City of Asia
• Derby, a Town of Engla [...]
• Desert, Merit
• Desart, a Wilderness
• Dew, a falling Mist
• Due, owing
• Do, to make
• Doe, a female Deer
• Dough, Paste
• Don, a Spanish Lord
• Done, acted
• Dun, of Colour
• Dolphin, a Fish
• Dauphine, the French King eldest Son
• Devices, Inventions
• Devizes, in Wiltshire
• Doer, that doeth
• Door, of a House
• Dragon, a Beast
• Dragoon, a Soldier
• Draught, of Drink
• Drought, [...]ryness
• Dolour, Grief or Pain
• Dollar, a Piece of Money
• Demure, Sober
• Demur, a Stop or Doubt

• Ear, of the Head
• E'er, ever
• Early, betimes▪
• Yearly, every Year
• Earth, the Ground
• Hearth, of the Chimney
• [Page 15] Easter, the Festival
• Esther, a Woman's Name
• Enter, to go in
• Inter, to bury
• Elder, not the Younger
• Eld [...]rn, a Tree
• Eaten, or swallowed
• Eton, a Town's Name
• Eminent, famous
• Imminent, over Head
• Enow, in Number
• Enough, in Quantity
• Earn, to deserve
• Yarn, Woollen Thread
• Yearn, to pity
• Envy, or Hatred
• Envoy, a Messenger
• Exercise, Labour or Practice
• Exorcise, to conjure
• Err, to mistake
• Er, Brother to Onan, Sons of Judah
• Extant, in being
• Extent, Distance

• Fain, desirous
• Feign, to dissemble
• Fair, beautiful, or a Market
• Fare, Victuals
• Faint, weary
• Feint, a false March
• Fourth, in Number
• Forth, to go out
• Feed to eat
• Fee'd, rewarded
• Fir, Wood
• Fur, or Hair
• Felon, a Criminal
• Fellon, a Whitlow
• File, of Steel
• Foil, put to the worst
• Fly, as a Bird
• Fly, or Insect
• Fillip, with the Fingers
• Philip, a Man's Name
• Flower, of the Field
• Flour, Meal
• Floor, of the Room
• Follow, to come after
• Fallow, Ground not plow'd
• Find, to find any thing
• Fin'd, amerced
• Fiend, a Devil
• Flea off the Skin, and also Vermin
• Flee, to escape
• Fowl, a Bird
• Foul, dirty
• Francis, a Man's Name
• Frances, a Woman's Name
• Frays, Quarrels
• Froise, Pancake with Bacon

• Gall, of a Beast
• Gaul, France
• Garden, of Herbs
• Guardian, an Overseer
• Genteel, graceful
• Gentile, a Heathen
• Gentle, mild
• Gesture, Carriage
• Jester, a merry Fellow
• Groan, with Grief
• Grown, greater
• Guilt, of Sin
• Gilt, with Gold
• Greater, bigger
• Grater, for Nutmegs
• Grave, for the Dead
• Greave, Armour for the Leg
• Guess, to imagin
• Guest, one entertain'd
• Gluttonous, greedy
• Glutinous, sticking as Pitch
• Great, large
• Grate, for Coals, &c.
• [Page 16] Graze, to eat
• Grays, a Town
• Groat, Four pence
• Grot, a Cave
• Gallies, Ships with Oars
• Gallows, for Criminals

• Hare, of the Fields
• Hair, of the Head
• Harsh, severe
• Hash, minced Meat
• Haven, a Harbour
• Heaven, a large Place of Happiness
• Heart, of the Body
• Hart, of the Woods, or an over-grown Buck
• Herd, of Cattle
• Heard, did hear
• Hard, not soft, or difficult
• Here, in this Place
• Hear, with the Ears
• High, lofty
• Hie, away, make haste
• Him, that Man
• Hymn, to sing
• Hail, congeal'd Rain
• Hale, the Ship
• Hall, in a House
• Haul, pull
• Higher, taller
• Hire, W [...]ges
• His, of him
• Hiss, as a Snake, or to deride
• Hoar, Frost
• Whore, a lewd Woman
• Hole, or Hollowness
• Wh [...]le, in [...]ire
• Ho! lo! to call
• H [...]llow, to make holy
• Holy, pious
• Wholly, intirely
• Home, one's House
• Holm, Holly
• Hoop, for a Tub
• Whoop, or ho! lo!
• Hugh, a Man's Name
• Hue ▪ of Colour
• Hew, with an Ax

• I, I myself
• Eye, to [...]ee with
• Idle, lazy
• Idol, an Image
• I'll, I will
• Ile, of a Church
• Isle, an Island
• Oil, of Olives
• Imploy, in Work
• Imply, to signify
• In, within
• Inn, for Travellers
• Incite, to stir up
• Insight, Knowledge
• Ingenious, of quick Parts
• Ingenuous, candid
• Iron, Metal
• Ironie, speaking by Contra [...]

• Ketch, a Ship
• Catch, to take
• Kill, to slay
• Kiln, for Lime
• Kind, good natur'd
• Coin'd, Money
• Knave, dishonest
• Nave, of a Whe [...]l
• Knight, by Honour
• Night, Darkness

• Laid, placed
• Lade, the Water
• Lane, not a Street
• Lain, did lie
• Latin, a Tongue
• Latten, Tin
• [Page 17] Lattice, of a Window
• L [...]ttice, a Woman's Name
• [...]ettuce, Sallad
• [...]ease, of a House
• L [...]ash, three
• L [...]es, of Wine
• L [...]ese, old Word for lose
• L [...]aper, that jumpeth
• L [...]p [...]r, one leprous
• L [...]ssen, to make less
• L [...]sson, to read
• L [...]st, smallest
• L [...]st, for fear
• L [...]thargy, Sleepiness
• L [...]urgy, Church-service
• L [...]er, in wait
• Lyar, that tells Lies
• Limb, a Member
• Limn, to paint
• Line, Length
• L [...]in, of Veal
• L [...]w, humble
• [...], behold
• Lose, to suffer Loss
• Loose, to let go
• Lower, to let down
• Lour, to frown

• Made, finished
• Maid, a young Woman
• Main, Chief
• Mane, of a Horse
• Male, the He
• Mail, Armour
• Manner, Custom
• Manor, a Lordship
• Market, to buy or sell in
• Mark it, note it
• Marsh, low Ground
• Mash, for a Horse, or of a Net
• Martin, a Man's Name
• Marten, a Bird
• Mead, a Meadow
• Mede, one of Media
• Mean, of low Value
• Mien, Carriage or Aspect
• Meat, to eat
• Mete, to measure
• Message, Business
• Messuage, a House
• Mews, for Hawks
• Muse, to meditate
• Mighty, powerful
• Moiety, half
• Mile, Measure
• Moil, Labour
• Might, Strength
• Mite, in Cheese
• Moat, a Ditch
• Mote, in the Sun
• More, in Quantity
• Moor, a black
• Mower, that moweth
• Moore, barren Ground
• Mortar, made of Lime
• Mortar, to pound in
• Mole, Vermin▪
• Mould, to cast in

• Nay, denial
• Neigh, as a Horse
• Neither, none of the two
• Nether, lower
• Naught, bad
• Nought, nothing
• Nigh, near
• Nye, a Man's Name
• Nice, curious
• Niece, a Brother's Daughter
• Not, denying
• Knot, to tye
• Note, mark
• Note, of one's Hand
• Nose, of the Face
• Noah's Ark

• [Page 18] Oar, of a Boat
• Ore, crude Metal
• O'er, over
• Off, cast off
• Of, belonging to
• Our, belonging to us
• Hour, of the Day
• Oh! alas!
• Owe, in Debt
• One, in Number
• Own, to acknowledge
• Order, Rule
• Oraure, Dung

• Pair, a Couple
• Pare, cut off
• Pear, a Fruit
• Pattin, for a Woman
• Patent, a Grant
• Peer, a Lord
• Pier, of Dover
• Peter, a Man [...]s Name
• Petre, Salt
• Pail, for Water
• Pale, of Countenance
• Pale, a Fence
• Place, Room
• Plaise, a Fish
• Parson, of the Parish
• Person, any Man
• Pole, for Hops
• Poll, of the Head
• Pool, of Water
• Pore, with the Eyes, or of the Skin
• Poor, necessitous
• Polate, of the Mouth
• Pallet, Bed
• Pos [...], a Nosegay
• Poesy, Poetry
• Power, mighty
• Pour, as Water
• Prey, a Booty
• Pray, beseech
• Profit, Gain
• Pr [...]phet, a Foreteller
• Practice, Exercise
• Practise, to exercise
• Presence, being here
• Presents, Gifts
• Princes, the King's Sons
• Princesses, the King's Daug [...]ters
• Please, to content
• Pleas, Defences
• Precedent, an Example
• President, Chief
• Principal, Chief
• Principle, the first Rule

• Quire, of Paper
• Choir, of Singers
• Queen, the King's Wife
• Quean, an Harlot

• Rack, to torment
• Wreck, of a Ship
• Rain, Water
• Reign, of the King
• Rein, of a Bridle
• Rays, of the Sun
• Raise, lift up
• Race, to run
• Rase, to demolish
• Rice, Grain
• Rise, to get up
• Red, in Colour
• Read, the Book
• Reed, of the Water
• Relick, a Remainder
• Relict, a Widow
• Roe, of a Fish, or a Fema [...] Deer
• Row, the Boat
• Right, not wrong
• [Page 19] Ri [...]e, a Ceremony
• Write, with a Pen
• Wright, a Wheelwright
• Reddish, of Colour
• Radish, a Root
• Rear, set up
• Rere, behind
• Ruff, for the Neck
• Rough, not smooth
• Rie, Corn
• Rye, in Sussex
• Wry, crooked
• Ring, the Bells
• Wring, the Hands
• Rime, a Fog or Mist
• Rhyme, Verse
• Rind, of Cheese
• R [...]de, did ride
• Road, the Highway
• Rote, got by Heart
• Wrote, did write
• Wrought, did work

• Savour, Taste or Smell
• Saviour, that saves
• Sheep ▪ a Beast
• Ship, for the Sea
• Sight, View
• Cite, to summons
• Sail, of a Ship
• Sale, of Goods
• Sink, sink down
• Cinque, Five
• Slow, not quick
• She, Fruit
• Sow, Seed
• Sew, with a Needle
• So, thus
• Slight, neglected
• Sleight, of Hand
• Some a Part
• Sum, of Money
• Soul, or Spirit
• Sole, a Fish
• Sole, of a Shoe
• Son, of a Father
• Sun, in the Firmament
• Sore, painful
• Soar, aloft
• Swore, did swear
• Stare, to look on earnestly
• Stair, a Step
• Stile, to get over
• Style, of Writing
• Sound, whole, firm; also Noise
• Swoon, to faint away
• Straight, not crooked
• Strait, narrow
• Succour, Help
• Sucker, a young Spri [...]
• Spear, a Weapon
• Sphere, a Globe

• Then, at that Time
• Than, in Comparison
• Tame, gentle, not wild
• Thame, in Oxfordshire
• Tear, to rent
• Tear, of the Eye
• Tare, an Allowance in Weight
• Tare, a Vetch
• Tail of a Beast
• Tale, a Story
• Tiles, for the House
• Toyls, Nets
• Toil, to Labour
• There, in that Place
• Their, of them
• Throne, of the King
• Thrown, as a Stone
• Tide, a flowing Water
• Ty'd, made fast
• Time of the Day
• Thyme, an Herb
• Team of Horse [...]
• [Page 20] Teem, with Child
• Twice, twice one
• To, the Preposition
• Too, likewise
• Toe of the Foot
• Tow, to draw
• Tow, to spin
• Told, as a Story
• Toll'd, as a Bell
• Tour, a Journey
• Tower, of a Church

• Vacation, Leisure
• Vocation, a Calling
• Veil, a Covering
• Vale, between two Hills
• Vain, foolish
• Vein, of the Body
• Vane, or Weathercock
• Value, Worth
• Valley, a Vale
• Vial, a Glass
• Viol, a Fiddle

• Your, of you
• Ewer, a Bason
• Use, Practice
• Use, to be wont
• Ewes, Sheep

• Wade, in the Water
• Weigh'd, in the Scales
• Whale, of the Sea
• Wail, lament
• Ware, Merchandize
• Were, was
• Where, what Place
• Weigh to weigh
• Wey, five Quarters
• Weal, good
• Wheal, from Scourging
• Wield, a Sword
• Weald, of Sussex in Kent
• Wen, in the Neck
• When, at what Time
• White, of Colour
• Wight, an Island
• Whist, Silence
• Wist, knew
• Wood, of Trees
• Wou'd, for Would

• Yea, Yes
• Ye, you
• Ewe, a Sheep
• Yew, a Tree
• Yarn, made of Wool
• Yearn, to weep

Of Stops, Marks, and Points, used in Reading and Writing, with their Places and Significations.

THESE are of absolute Necessity; and great R [...]gard ought to be had to them, to avoid Confusion an [...] Misconstruction, and for the better Understanding of [...] we read and write ourselves; and are likewise of U [...]e [...] others that shall hear us read, or see our Writing: The [...] teach us to observe proper Distances of Time, with the n [...]cessary Raising and Falling of the Tone or Voice in Read [...]ing, and the needful Stops or Marks to be used in Writing that we may understand it ourselves, and that our Meanin [...] may not be misunderstood or misapplied by others.

[Page 21]Stops, or Pauses, considered as Intervals in Reading, are [...]ndeed no more than four; though there are other Marks [...] be taken notice of, but to other Purposes: The Names of these four principal Stops are, viz. a Comma, Semicolon, Colon, and Period or Full Stop; and these do bear to one [...]nother a kind of progressional Proportion of Time; for the Comma signifies a Stop of leisurely telling One, the Semicolon Two, the Colon Three, and the Period Four.—

And are made or mark'd thus:

Comma, (,) at the Foot of a Word.

Semicolon (;), a Point over the Comma.

Colon (:) two Points

Period () a single Point at the Foot of a Word.

, Example of the Comma.) There is not any thing in the World, perhaps, that is more talk'd of, and less understood, than the Business of a happy Life.

; Example of the Semicolon.) It is not a Curse that makes way for a Blessing; the bare Wish is an Injury; the Moderation of Antigonus was remarkable.

: Example of the Colon.) A sound Mind is not to be shaken with popular Applause: But, Anger is startled at every Accident.

. Example of the Period) It is a [...] says Fabius, for a Commander to excuse himself, by saying [...] was not aware of it. A Cruelty that was only fit for M [...]rius to suffer, Sylla to command, and Cataline to act.

By the Examples foregoing, we may easily note, that a Comma is a Note of a short Stay, between Words in the Sentence; and therefore the Tenor of the Voice must still be kept up.—The Semicolon is a little longer, and the Tone of the Voice very little abated.—The Colon signifies perfect Sense, though not an End of the Sentence; and the Voice a little abated, or let fall.—The Period denotes perfect Sense, and the End of the Sentence.

? When the Question is asked, there is a crooked Mark made over the Period thus? and is called a Note of Interro­gation: Example, What could be happier than the State of Mankind, when People lived without either Avarice or Envy? The Time of Pause for this Stop, is the same with the Semicolon.

! If a sudden Crying out, or Wondering, be expressed, then this Mark is made over the Full Stop, thus! and called [Page 22] a Note of Admiration, or Exclamation. Example, Oh the astonishing Wonders that are in the elementary World!

() If one Sentence be within another, of which it is no Part, then 'tis placed between two Semicircles or Parenthesis, made thus () Example, Pompey, on the other Side (that hardly ever spake in Publick without a Blush) had a wonder­ful Sweetness of Nature. Again, if Authors be sure to make Choice of the best; and (as I said before) to stick close to them. Once more; Honour thy Father and Mother (which is the first Commandment with Promise) that it may [...]e well with thee.—In reading a Parenthesis, the Tone must be somewhat lower, as a Thing or Matter that comes in by the bye, breaking in as it were on the main Coherence of the Period. The Time is equal to a Comma, and ought to be read pretty quick, lest it detain the Ear too long from the Sense of the more important Matter.

' Apostrophe is a Comma at the Head of Letters, signify­ing some Letter or Letters left out for quicker Pronounciation; as I'll for I will, would'st for wouldest, sha'n't for shall not, ne'er for never, is't for is it, 'tis for it is, i'th' for in the, o'er for over: Or to denote a Genitive Case; as, my Fa­ther's House, my Uncle's Wife, &c.

/ Accent is [...] over a Vowel, to denote that the Stress of Sound in [...] is on that Syllable.

[...] Breve or [...] Mark over a Vowel, signifies it must be sounded short or quick.

[...] Caret signifies something is wanting, and is placed under­neath the Line, just where any thing omitted, by Mistake, or Forgetfulness, &c. should be brought in.

[...] Circumflex is of the same Shape with the Caret, but is placed over some Vowel, to shew the Syllable to be long, as Eu-phrâ-tes.

[...] Dialysis, or two Points placed over two Vowels in a Word, signifies they are to be parted, being no Diphthong.

- Hyphen, or Note of Connection, is a straight Line; which being set at the End of a Line, shews that the Syllables of that Word are parted, and the Remainder of it is at the Be­ginning of the next Line; and sometimes is used in com­pound Words; as Burnt-sacrifices, Heart-breaking, Soul-healing, Book-keeper, &c. N. B. That when you have not Room to write the whole Word at the End of a Line, but are obliged to finish it at the Beginning of the next, such Words must be truly divided, according to the Rules of [Page 23] Spelling; as re strain, not—res­train. When the Hyphen is placed over a Vowel, it is properly a Dash, and signifies the Omission of m or n; it is much used in old Latin Authors, and sometimes in English, especially in Law Business. Example; It is very comēdable to write a good Hand.

☞ Index, is a Note like a Hand, pointing to something very remarkable.

* Asterism, or Star, directs to some Remark in the Mar­gin, or at the Foot of the Page. Several of them together, denote something defective, or immodest, in that Passage of the Author.

† Obelisk, is a Mark like a Dagger, and refers to the Margin, as the Asterism *; And in Dictionaries, it signifies the Word to be obsolete, or old, and out of use.

¶ Paragraph, denotes a Division, comprehending several Sentences under one Head.

§ Section, signifies the Beginning of a new Head of Dis­course, and is used in sub dividing a Chapter, or Book, in­to lesser Parts or Portions.

[] Brackets or Crotchets, generally include a Word or Sentence, explanatory of what went before; or Words of the same Sense, which may be used in their Stead.

" Quotation, or double Comma [...] is used at the Beginning of the Line, and shews what [...] from an Author to be in his own Words.

Thus much for Pointing, Stops, and Marks; which, if carefully heeded and observed, will add Grace and Credit to your Writing.

Of Abreviations.

TO be ready in these, shews a Dexterity in Writing; and is very necessary for Dispatch: For by these, we ex­peditiously express, or set down a Word, shortening it, by making some initial Letter or Letters, belonging to the Word, to express it; as in the Table following.

• A, For Answer or After­noon
• A. B. Arts Batchelor
• A. Bp. Archbishop
• Acct. Account
• A. D. Anno Domini, Year of our Lord
• A. M. Anno Mundi, Year of the World
• Admrs. Administrators
• A. M. Artium Magister, Master of Arts
• Ana. of each a like Quatity
• Ap. April, or Apostle
• [Page 24] Adml. Admiral
• Agt. Against
• Amt. Amount
• Anab. Anabaptist
• Aug. August
• A. R. Anno Regni, in the Year of the Reign
• Ast. P. G. Astronomy Pro­fessor of Gresham College
• Aust. Austin, or Austria
• B. A. Batchelor of Arts
• B. D. Batchelor of Divinity
• B. V. Blessed Virgin
• Bart. Baronet
• Bp. Bishop
• Cha. Charles, or Chapter
• Cant. Canticles, or Canter­bury
• Cat. Catechism
• Cha. Charles, or Charity
• Chap. Chapter
• Cent. Centum
• Ch. Church
• Chanc. Chancellor
• Chron. Chronicles
• Capt. Captain
• Clem. Clement
• Col. Colossians
• Cl. Clericus
• Co. Country
• Coll. Colonel
• Comrs. Commissioners
• Con. Constance or Constantine
• Conf. Confessor
• Cou'd for could
• Cor. Corinthians or Corollary
• Cr. Creditor
• C. R. Carolus Rex, or Charles the King
• C. C. C. Corpus Christi Col­lege
• C. S. Custos, Sigilli, Keeper of the Seal
• C.P.S. Custos Privati Sigil [...] Keeper of the Privy Seal
• D. Dean or Duke
• Dan. Daniel
• Dr. Doctor or Debtor
• Dea. Deacon
• Do. Ditto
• D. Denarii, Pence
• Dec. Or xber, or 10 ber, D [...]cember
• Devon. Devonshire
• Deut. Deuteronomy
• Dec. Deceased
• D. C. Dean of Christ Churc [...]
• Doct. Doctrine
• D. D. Doctor of Divinity
• E. for Earl
• Earld. Earldom
• Edm. Edmund
• Edw. Edward
• E. gr. Exempli gratia, fo [...] Example
• Engl. England
• Eliz. Elizabeth
• Esa. Esaiah
• Eph. Ephesians
• Eccl. Ecclesiastes
• Ex. Exodus, or Example
• Ev. Evangelist
• Exp. Explanation
• Expo. Exposition
• Esq Esquire
• Exon. Exeter
• Fr. French, or France
• Feb. February
• Fra. Francis
• F. R. S. Fellow of the Roy [...] Society
• G. God, Great, or Gosp [...]
• Gal. Galatians
• Gen. Genesis
• Genmo. Generalissimo
• Geo. George
• [Page 25] G. R. Georgius Rex, George the King
• Gar. Garrison
• Gen. General
• Gent. Gentleman
• Gosp. Gospel
• Greg. Gregory
• Hen. Henry
• Hamp. Hamper
• Hund. Hundred
• Hum. Humphry
• Heb. Hebrews
• i. e. id est, that is
• I. H. S. Jesus Hominum Sal­vator, Jesus Saviour of Men
• Id. Idem, the same
• Inst. Instance or Instant
• Ja. James, or Jacob
• Jan. January
• Jer. Jeremiah
• Jes. Jesus
• Jno. John
• Jud. Judges
• Is. Isaac
• I'll, I will
• Is't, is it
• I'd, I had
• I m I am
• J. D. Jurium Doctor, Doc­tor of Laws
• Jos. Joshua
• K. King
• Km. Kingdom
• Knt. Knight
• L. Lord
• L. Liber, a Book
• L. Librae, Pounds
• Lieu. Lieutenant
• Lp Lordship
• Ladishp. Ladyship
• L. L. D. Legum Doctor, Doctor of Laws
• Learng. Learning
• Lon. London
• Lr. Letter
• Lam. Lamentations
• Lev. Leviticus
• Let's Let us
• M. Marquis, or Monday, or Morning
• Mar. March
• Mat. Matthew
• M. Manipulus, a Handful
• M. A Master of Arts
• Maty Majesty
• Md. Madam
• Mons. Monsieur
• Math. Mathematician
• Mr. Master
• Mrs. Mistress
• M. D. Medicinae Doctor, Doctor of Physick
• M. S. Memoriae Sacrum, Sacred to the Memory; also Manuscript
• Mich. Michael, or Michaelmas
• Min. Minister
• N. Note, or Nativity
• Nat. Nathaniel, or Nativity
• N. B. Nota bene, Note, or mark well
• Nic. Nicolas, or Nicodemus
• N. S. New Stile
• No. Number
• n.l. Non liquet, it appears not
• Nov. or [...]ber, November
• O. Oliver
• Obj. Objection
• Obt. Obedient
• O. W. Old Word
• O. S. Old Stile
• Oct. or 8 ber, October
• Oxon. Oxford
• P Paul, Paulus, Publius, President
• Pugil, a Handful
• Pen. Penelope
• [Page 26] Pd. paid
• Par. Parish
• p. per, or by
• Pat. Patience or Patrick
• Per C ^t. Per Centum, by the Hundred
• Parl. Parliament
• Pet. Peter
• Phil. Philippians, or Philip
• Philom. Philomethes, a Lo­ver of Learning.
• Philo-Math. Philo Mathe­maticus, a Lover of the Mathematicks.
• P. M. G. Professor of Music at Gresham College
• Pros. Th. G. Professor of Di­vinity at Gresham College
• Pris. Priscilla
• Pr. Priest
• Ps. Psalm
• Q Queen or Question
• q. quasi, as it were
• q. d. quasi dicat, as if he should say
• q. l. quantum libet, as much as you please
• q. s. quantum sufficet, a suf­ficient Quantity
• qr. Quarter, or a Farthing
• R. Reason
• R. Rex, King; or Regina, Queen
• Revd. Reverend
• Rev. Revelations
• Rich. Richard
• Robt. Robert
• Rog. Roger
• Ret. Return
• Re [...]. Prof. Regius Professor, founded by K. Henry VIII.
• Rom. Romans
• Rt Honble. Right Honourable
• Rt Wpl. Right Worshipful
• St. Saint
• Sam. Samuel
• Sect. Section
• Sept. or 7 ber, Septemb [...]
• Serj. Serjeant
• Serv. Servant
• Shr. Shire
• Shan't, for shall not
• Salop, Shropshire
• Sol. Solution
• Staff. Stafford
• Sp. Spain, or Spanish
• Sr. Sir
• ss. Semissis, half a Pound
• S. S. T. P. A Professor, a Doctor of Philosophy
• Stew. Steward
• Tho. Thomas
• Thes. Thessalonians
• The. Theophilus
• To. Tobias
• V. Virgin or Verse
• U. Use
• Vid. see
• Ven. Venerable
• Viz. Videlicet, to wit, that is to say
• Wm. William
• Wp. Worship
• Wpl. Worshipful
• W. R. William Rex
• wn. when
• Xn. Christian
• Xt. Christ
• Xtopher Christopher
• y ^e. the
• y ⁿ. then
• y ^o. you
• y ^m. them
• y ^t. that
• y ^r. your
• Z. Zeal
• &. et, and
• &c. & caetera, and the or, and so forth.

[Page 27]And now having [...] my Directions concerning [...] ▪ Pointing, &c. I shall proceed to give some Instruc­ [...]ons in relation to the most useful Art of Writing.

When any Person has throughly acquainted himself with [...], and understands good English, &c. the next Step [...], is the Acquiring of the accomplishing Art of fair [...] to put this Spelling in Practice: In order thereto, [...] [...]deavour to give such Directions, and proper [...] as may duly qualify any Person therein.

[...] principally, there must be a fixed Desire and [...] imprinted in the Mind, for its Attainment· For [...] had never acquired, or arrived to any Proficiency [...] I had not had a strong Desire and Inclination to it, [...] being convinced of its excellent Use in Trade, [...] Manner of Business, according to the Verse,

[...] to the Desire, there must be added a steady Resolu­ [...] [...] go through with it, 'till it is gained; and by a [...] and indefatigable Application, overcome all seeming [...], that may arise in the Progress of its Attainment, [...] to this Distich;

DIRECTIONS to BEGINNERS.

[...]IRST, 'tis necessary to be provided with the follow­ing Implements, viz. good Pens, good and free Ink, also good Paper, when arrived to commendable Perfor­ [...]ces; likewise a flat Ruler for Sureness, and a round one [...] Dispatch, with a Leaden Plummet or Pencil to rule [...]: Also Gum Sandrick Powder, (or Pounce as they call [...] with a little Cotton dipp'd therein, which rub gently [...] the Paper, to make it bear Ink the better; particularly [...] full Hands are to be written, such as Text, &c. and [...]pecially when you are obliged to scratch out a Word or [...]etter; for then there will be a Necessity for its Use; And [...] the Place with the Pounce, smooth it with the Haft of the Penknife, or clean Paper, and then you may write [...]hat is proper in the same Place. These Implements are [...] up in these Lines.

To hold the Pen.

THE Pen must be held somewhat sloping, with the Thumb and the two Fingers next to it; the Ball of the Middle Finger must be placed strait, just against the up­per Part of the Cut or Cradle, to keep the Pen steady▪ The Fore Finger lying strait on the Middle Finger; and the Thumb must be fixed a little higher than the End of the Fore Finger, bending in the Joint; and the Pen be so placed, to be held easily without griping. The Elbow must be drawn pretty close to the Body, almost to touch it. You must support your Hand, by leaning on the Table Edge, resting on it, half way between your Wrist and Elbow, not suffering the Ball, or fleshy Part of your Hand to touch the Paper; but resting your Hand on the End of your Little Finger, that and your fourth Finger bending inwards, and supported on the Table as abovesaid. So fixed, and sitting pretty upright, not leaning your Breast against the Table, proceed to the making the small o, the a, e, c, i, m, r, s, w, and x; which must be all made of equal Bigness and Height, the Distance or Width between the two Strokes of the n, must be the same with the Distance or Width of the three Strokes of the m; the same Proportion of Width must be observed in the u, w, and o. The Letters with Stems or Heads, must be of equal Height; as the b, d, f, h k, l, and s. And those with Tails▪ must be of equal Depth▪ as the f, g, p, q, and s. The Capitals must bear the same Pro­portion one to another, with respect to Bigness and Height, as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I, &c.—This Proportion of Letters, both of Small and Great, must be observed in, and will serve for, all Hands whatsoever. N. B. That all upright S [...]rokes, and those leaning to the left Hand, must be fine or hair Strokes; and all downright Strokes must be fuller or blacker. And when you are in Joyning, where Letters will naturally join, without any straining, take not off the Pen in Writing, especially in Running or Mix'd Hands. Care likewise must be duly taken, that there be an [Page 29] [...]qual Distance between Letter and Letter, and also between Word and Word. The Distance between Word and Word, may be the Space that the small m takes up; but between Letter and Letter, not quite so much. Sit not long at wri­ting (that is, no longer than you improve) especially at the first, lest it weary you, and you grow weary of Learning. Imitate the best Examples, and have a constant Eye at your Copy; and be not ambitious of writing fast, before you can write well: Expedition will naturally follow, after you have [...]ained a Habit of writing fair and free; and 'tis much more [...]ommendable to be an Hour in writing six Lines well, than [...] be able to write sixty Lines in the same Time, which per­ [...]aps is perfect Scribble, and altogether unintelligible. And [...]esides, by a slow and fair Procedure, you will learn in half [...]he Time; and therefore 'tis a vain Thought in a Learner, [...] desire to be quick before he hath acquired Experience, [...]nd a Freedom of Writing by frequent Practice. If you have Cotton in your Ink, look well that there be no Hairs at the Nib of your Pen. Never overcharge your Pen with Ink; [...]ut shake what is too much into the Ink again. When you [...]eave off, keep your Pen or Pens in Water, till you come to [...]our Writing again.

How to make a Pen.

THIS is gained sooner by Experience and Observation from others that can make a Pen well, than by ver­ [...]al Directions. But Note, That those Quills call'd Seconds [...]re the best, as being hard, long and round in the Barrel; [...]nd before you begin to cut the Quill, scrape off the super­ [...]uous Scurff with the Back of your Pen-knife, and most on [...]he Back of the Quill, that the Slit may be the finer, and [...]ithout Gander's Teeth (as the Roughness of the Slit is by [...]ome called.) After you have scraped the Quill as above­ [...]id, cut the Quill at the End, half through, on the back [...]art; and then turning up the Belly, cut the other half or [...]art quite through, viz. about a quarter or almost half an [...], at the End of the Quill, which will then appear [...]rked: Then enter the Pen-knife a little in the back Notch; [...]nd then putting the Peg of the Pen-knife, Haft (or the [...]nd of another Quill) into the back Notch, holding your [...]humb pretty hard on the Back of the Quill, (as high as [...] intend the Slit to be) then with a sudden or quick [...]witch, force up the Slit; it must be sudden and smart, that [Page 30] the Slit may be the Clearer: Then by several Cuts of [...] Side, bring the Quill into equal Shape, or Form, on [...] Sides, [...] [...]aving brought it to a fine Point, place the [...] of the Nib on the Nail of your Thumb, and enter the [...] a [...] the Extremity of the Nib, and cut it through, a [...] sloping: Then with an almost downright Cut of the Kni [...] cut off the Nib; and then by other proper Cuts, finish [...] Pen, bringing it into Handsome Shape, and proper For [...] But meddle not with the Nib again, by giving it any [...] or fine Cuts; for that causes a Roughness, and spoil [...] But if you do, to bring the Nib the evener, you must [...] it again, as above directed. ☞ Note, That the Breadth the Nib must be proportioned to the Breadth of the [...] or down-right black Strokes of the Letters, in whatsoe [...] Hand you write, whether Small or Text. Note also, [...] in your sitting to write, you place yourself directly again [...] fore-right Light, or else to have it on your left Hand, ( [...] I esteem best) but by no Means to have the Light on [...] right Hand, because the Shadow of your Writing-Hand [...] obstruct your Sight, and therefore is very improper. [...] therefore, me thinks, all Persons in fixing up their Acco [...]ting Houses, should have a particular Regard to their [...], in respect to what was before mentioned.

Thus far for Direction. Now for Application. I [...] here set Copies of the most usual, fashionable, and c [...]mendable Hands for Business; with Alphabets of Great [...] Small Letters proper to each. Be sure you make your [...] well, (both Small and Great) before you [...] joining. Be careful in Imitation, and observe the [...] Directions, and without doubt you will gain your Command of Hand, or the Art of striking Letters, & gained by frequent practising after good Examples.

[Page 31]

Copies in Prose, and Clinking, in Alphabetical Order

Short Lines for Text Hand.

Abandon whatsoever's Ill—Be Wise betimes.

Care destroys the Body—Do the Things that are Just.

Expect to receive as you give—Frequent good Company

Give what you give chearfully—Have good Men in [...]

Imitate that which is good—Keep God's Commandmen [...]

Learn to be wise—Money answers all Things.

Nothing get, nothing have—Observe Modesty.

Pleasures are very short—Pains are very long.

Quit all Revenge—Quiet your Passions.

Recompence a good Turn—Repent of your Sins.

Spare for to live—Sin very little.

Time will improve—Turn from your Sins.

Use moderate Pleasure—Use not bad Company.

Vain are some Pleasures—Vile are some Vulgar.

Wisdom is the principal Thing—Wise Men are scarce.

Xenophon and Xenocrates—Zeno and Zenobia.

Double Lines in Verse.

Since good Ink is necessary to good Writing, I shall give Receipt or two for making some of the best Black Ink in [...] World, which is as follows, viz.

A Receipt for Black Ink.

TO six Quarts of Rain or River Water, (but Rain Wa­ter is the best) put one Pound and a Half of fresh blue [...] of Aleppo (for those of Smyrna are not strong enough) [Page 44] bruised pretty small; 8 Ounces of Copperas, clean, rock▪ and green; also 8 Ounces of clean, bright, and clear [...] Arabick; and 2 Ounces of Roche Allom: Let these [...] together in a large Stone Bottle, or clean Stone Pot, earthen Pot, with a narrow Mouth to keep it free from [...] shake, roll, or stir it well, once every Day, and you [...] have excellent Ink in about a Month's Time: And [...] Older it grows, the better 'twill be for Use.

Ingredients for a Quart.

1 Quart of Water, 4 Ounces of Gall [...], 2 Ounces of [...], and 2 Ounces of Gum, mix'd and stirred as above

☞ If you soak the green Peeling of Walnuts (at [...] Time of the Year when pretty ripe) and Oak Saw-dust small Chips of it, in Rain Water, and stirr'd pretty [...] for a Fortnight, and then strain'd, and the Water used [...] the same Ingredients as above, the Ink will still be stron [...] and better.

How to make Red Ink.

TAKE 3 Pints of Stale Beer, (rather than Vine [...] and 4 Ounces of Ground Brazil Wood; simmer [...] together for an Hour; and then strain it thro' a Flannel, &c, then bottle it up (well stopped) for Use.

Or you may dissolve half an Ounce of Gum Stennega, Arabick, in half a Pint of Water; then put a Penny [...] of Vermillion into a small Gallipot, and pour some of [...] Gum Water to it, and stir it well, and mix it together [...] a Hair-pencil, to a proper Consistency; but it will not inc [...]porate presently, but by the next Day it will; then hav [...] a clean Pen, dip it into the Ink, having first well stirre [...] with the Pencil, and then you may use it: It is a fine [...] curious Red, tho' not so free as the other. And after [...] same manner, you may make any other colour'd Ink, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, &c. having divers Gallip [...] for that Use. In like manner you may mix the Shell [...] for curious Occasions, pouring two or three Drops, accord [...] to Direction, into the Shell, and mix it well with a [...] Hair Pencil, and with it put a little into a clean Pen, [...] The small Shells may be bought a some Fan-sellers, [...] Fan-painters, at two or three for Two-pence; or the [...] ones (which are the best) at the Colour-shops, at Six- [...] a Piece.

To keep Ink from Freezing or Moulding.

[...]N hard frosty Weather▪ Ink will be apt to freeze; which [...] if [...] it doth, it will be good for nothing; for it takes [...] all its Blackness and Beauty. To prevent which (if [...] have not the Conveniency of keeping it warm, or from [...] Cold) put a few Drops of Brandy, or other Spirits, into [...] and it will not freeze. And to hinder its Moulding, put [...]ittle Salt therein.

[...]miliar Letters on several Occasions, and on divers Subjects.

BEFORE we enter upon Arithmetick, it may be proper to give some Examples of Letters on various Subjects, [...] upon divers Occasions; which Letters frequently read [...], and sometimes copied, it may be a good Introduction, [...] handsome Style of Sense, and to a commendable Man­ [...]r [...] of Writing▪ besides the Help and Use they may be of in [...] and observing the Method of Spelling good English ▪ [...] orthographically placing Great Letters, or Capitals, [...]here they ought to be; and also an imprinting in the Mind [...] due Notion of Points, Stops, &c. and when and where [...] be made.

Let [...]ers are variously worded, and ought properly to ex­ [...]es [...] the Desi [...]es, Thoughts, &c. of the Writer to the [...]eader, that thereby the Receiver of the Letter may fully [...]derstand, and be justly inform'd of the Occasions, Wants, [...] Intentions of the Sender.

Letters being writ on divers Subjects, and on sundry Oc­ [...]sions, they may be ranked under these Denominations, or [...]veral Heads following, viz. Letters of proffered Assistance, [...]etters Consolatory, Letters of Thanks, Letters Congratulatory, [...] of Repro [...]f, Ditto of Excuse, Ditto Accusatory, Ditto [...] A [...]vice or Counsel, Ditto of Recommendation, Ditto [...], Ditto of Remorstrance, and Letters of Visit, properly [...] Familiar Letters, Letters of Business; and lastly, Mixed [...]etters, that is, on various Subjects, and different Affairs.

I shall not have Room to touch upon every one of those [...]articularly; but I shall give sundry Examples promiscuously [...]xhibited, and are such as these that follow, viz.

It is as proper to know how to Subscribe; [...]nd how to Di­rect, as it is how to write a Letter.

Of Secret Writing.

HHRE it may not be improper to say something [...] Secret Writing; to which Bishop Wilkins, in his Boo [...] of Mathematical Magick, speaks largely; but it is princ [...]pally concerning Writing in Cypher, which requires gre [...] Pains, and an uncommon Share of Ingenuity, both in Write [...] [Page 55] and Readers. But however I shall shew two or three par­ticular Ways, that are very pretty and amusing, and also very easy, both as to Cost and Pains. And

First, If you dip your Pen in the Juice of a Lemon, or of an Onion, or in your own Urine, or in Spirits of Vitriol, and write on clean Paper whatever you intend, it shall not be discerned till you hold it to the Fire, and then it will ap­pear legible. And if with any of the aforementioned, you write on your Skin, as on your Arm, the Back of your Hand, &c. it shall not be seen till you burn a Piece of Pa­per, and with the Ashes rub on the Place, and then it will appear very plain. And this I have experienced and try'd, and therefore can say, Probatum est.

Another Way is, When you write a Letter that you in­tend shall not be discovered, but to those you think fit; is first to write your Thoughts on one Side of your Letter with black Ink, as usual (but it ought to be on thin Paper) and then on the contrary Side, go over the said Matter that you would have secret, with a clean Pen dipp'd in Milk; and that Writing shall not be read without holding it to the Fire, as mentioned above, and then it will appear legible, in a bluish Colour.

A third Method, is to have two Pieces of Paper of equal Size, and the uppermost cut in chequered Holes or Squares, big enough to contain any Word of six or seven Syllables, and in these Squares write your Mind in regular Sense; and then take off the said chequered Paper, and fill up the Va­cancies with Words of any Kind, which will render it per­fect Nonsense, and not capable of being read, to any Pur­pose of Intelligence. And transmit and send the said upper­most, or chequered Paper, or another exactly of the same Form, to your Correspondent; whereby he shall, by laying it nicely on your said Letter, read your intended Sense, without being perplexed with the Words of Amusement in­termixed, which makes it altogether unintelligible.

Or again, you may write to your Friend in proper Sense, with common Ink, and let the Lines be at so commodious a Distance, that what you intend to be secret, may be written between them with Water, wherein Galls have been steeped a little Time (but not long enough to tincture the Water) and when dry, nothing of the Writing between the said Lines ca [...] be seen; but when it is to be read, you must, with a fine Hair Pencil, dipp'd in Copper as Water, go between the [Page 56] said Lines, and so you make it legible. Note, This Way will give no Ground for Suspicion, because the Letter seemeth to carry a necessary Sense in those Lines that are set at such a proper Distance, &c.